Your neighbourhood team
Neighbourhood Services works to ensure that service requests and formal complaints are dealt with promptly and that any issues such as safeguarding, harassment or anti-social behaviour are promptly investigated. Alongside this they also deal with any tenancy matters and can refer tenants to other agencies for assistance. The team is led by Tom Harding, Neighbourhood Services Manager. He also oversees the regular programme of estate inspections and manages our caretakers. Alongside this he oversees our cleaning contractors as well as the in-house grounds maintenance service on estates. Listed below are areas that each of your Neighbourhood Officers look after. You will often see them when they are out and about on your estates, but please remember that your first point of contact for any housing-related enquiries should always be to email housing.service@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk or call our Customer Support team on 01303 853300.
Your Independent Living team The Independent Living team supports tenants over the age of 60 to continue living as independently as possible while providing them with an enhanced housing management service. This means that tenants in independent living schemes receive regular wellbeing checks from their Independent Living Officer. The team is led by Mike Bailey, Tenant Engagement & Independent Living Manager. The housing teams managing your area
| Neighbourhood Services Team Leader | Neighbourhood Officer | Areas covered |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Stock | Sue Bunney | Lydd, Marsh Rural, St Mary's Bay |
| Mark Emerson | Central Folkestone and Harbour area | |
| Kelly Flannery | Cheriton | |
| Margarita Gwanzura | North Folkestone and surrounding villages | |
| Debbie Helliwell | Dymchurch, Sandgate, Lympne, Burmarsh | |
| Hayley Kent | East Folkestone | |
| Nkoli Onyejeli | Hythe |
| Independent Living Team Leader | Independent Living Officer | Schemes covered |
|---|---|---|
| Jan Hatcher | Irene Crowley | Mittell Court, Lydd / Prescott House, New Romney / Romney Marsh House, Dymchurch |
| Maria Miller | Albert Costain Court, Folkestone / Bradfoord Court, Folkestone / Stephen Court, Folkestone | |
| Kate Pawlica | Philippa House, Folkestone / Walmsley House, Folkestone | |
| Jayne Lucas | Gabi Dunn | Green Court, Folkestone / Nailbourne Court, Lyminge |
| Gill Thomas | Mackeson Court, Hythe / Middelburg House, Cheriton / Stockham Court, Cheriton | |
| John Rees | Churchill Court, Hythe / Halliday Court, Hythe / Win Pine House, Hythe |
Other specialist supporting staff
- Rachel Buckley, Neighbourhood Relations Officer who deals with more complex cases of anti-social behaviour in tenanted properties
- Rikki and Francis, Caretakers who make sure the communal areas in our blocks of flats are clean and well maintained
- Loren Paine, Tenant Liaison Officer who works with our involved tenants and leaseholders
- Rich Parker, Homeownership & Service Charge Manager who manages our leasehold properties, shared ownership, the Right to Buy scheme and service charges
You can always find the most up to date version of who is part of the Neighbourhood Services team on our website.
Want to meet your Neighbourhood Officer?
Then come along to your local neighbourhood inspections. Find out more about how to get involved on our website.
Case study: How our involvement helped Charlie*
Charlie has a child with complex needs that can result in “meltdowns”, including screaming and banging on walls. When this happens, Charlie’s neighbour, Paul, bangs on Charlie’s front door and shouts at her and her child. We spoke to both Charlie and Paul, and found that although there was noise nuisance from Charlie’s home, it was not deliberate.
We advised Charlie on practical steps she could take to mitigate the effects of her child’s “meltdowns” on her neighbour. We suggested mediation, but Paul was not willing to do this. We also worked with the police, and we identified that Paul had used abusive and intimidating language.
As such, we found that Charlie was not in fact causing ASB, but Paul was causing ASB by being verbally abusive in response. We issued Paul with a Community Protection Warning, requiring him to not behave in an aggressive or abusive manner towards his neighbours, or anyone else.
* Names have been changed to protect identities.
Meet your Housing Leadership Team
Andrew Blaszkowicz Director of Housing & Operations
Andy has overall responsibility for the housing service, including ensuring we comply with the Regulator of Social Housing’s consumer standards. He also oversees other areas of the council including grounds maintenance, environmental health and licensing, new developments, engineering and buildings.
Gillian Butler Chief Officer – Housing
Gill is responsible for the day-to-day operations of all the housing departments; assets and neighbourhood management. Gill's focus is on ensuring we deliver high quality and customer-focused services to all our tenants and leaseholders. Gill oversees the work of the Housing Income team, Customer Support and other corporate teams that interact with tenants on a day-to-day basis. Gill manages the following teams: Mick Hale Tom Harding Mike Bailey Adrian Hammond Rich Parker Housing Assets Lead Manager Neighbourhood Services Manager Tenant Engagement & Independent Living Manager Strategic Housing Manager Homeownership & Service Charge Manager Repairs team Compliance team Planned works team Retrofit team Neighbourhoods team Caretakers Independent Living team Tenant Liaison Officer Allocations team Homelessness team Housing Strategy team Private Sector Housing team Leasehold and Right to Buy Service charges